Electric switch



Nov, 25,

A.- DOUGLAS fii-ECTRIIZC swnca Filed Jan. 30.. 1923 2 Sheds-Shoot 1 v H. A. DOUGLAS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 50. 1923 2 Shuts-Sheet. 2 r75 @7 1 a l 27 w @W Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES HARRY A. D OUGLAS, 0F BItONSON, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed January 30, 1923 Serial No. 615,862.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, HARRY A. DOUGLAS, citizen of the United States, residing at Bronson, in the county of Branch and State ofv Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Switches, which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description. v My invention relates to electric switches and is of particular "service in connection with those electric switches that are employed upon automobiles for the regulatton of their ignition and lighting circuits, though the invention is not to be restricted to any'particular use to which it may be put.

The invention has for one of its objects the provision of an improved assembly between the casing of such a switch and the mount? ing plate therefor, this object of the invention being realized by the provision of tongues upon one of these elements of the structure which projects through the other, these tongues being laterally deflected to maintain the casing and the mounting plate in assembly. I

The invention has for'another of its objects an improved assemblage between the switch operating handle and the casing which encloses the switch parts. In carrying. out this object of the invention the switch handle is formed with a flange that is received in spacing that intervenes between the endwall ofthe casing and the mounting plate, the handle having a portion that projects through an opening in the casmg into engagement with the switch mechanism.

In accordance with another object of the invention, the switch has an actuating membgt which is formed with an opening in w ich the portion of the handle that projects into the casing is received, this opening -.being of such shape as to prevent material relative turning movement of the handle and actuating member while permitting sliding movement of the actuating member upon the handle. Spring means are provided within. the casing for maintaining this actuating member in assembly with the handle, this spring means being preferably some of the contacting mechanism of the switch.

The structure of my invention also em-' ploys one or more mounting nuts which are assembled with and between the switch casing and the mounting plate in a manner to revent-the nuts from turning The screws y which the switch is fastened in place are sitioned to be engageable with the contact upon the first contact carrier, the contact upon the second contact carrier projecting lnto engagement with said contact actuator to enable the actuator to'move the second contact carrier. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the contact upon the second contact carrier is formed with a spring barrel exerting pressure at one end.

against the contact actuator and at its other end against the contact upon the "second con tactcarrier whereby the contact actuator may operate the second'contact carrier without binding the action of the spring in said spring barrela While this spring barrel is preferably a part of the contact yet it performs a mechanical function and the invention is not therefore to be limited to the persuitably passed through the holes in these formance of this function by an element.

which is also an electricalcontact.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the first contact carrier is provided with a pivotal formation upon which the second contact carrier is disposed and spring mechanism mechanically couples the contact actuator with the second contact carrier to enable the second contact carrier to be turnedby the actuator, this spring mechanism cooperating with the actuator to maintain the second contact carrier substantially in onev plane of movement.

The invention in all of its details will be .more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings in whic'h Fig. 1 is a new in elevation illustrating the preferred form of switch; Fig. 2 is a rear' view of the switch; Figs. 3, 4 and'5 are sectional views respectively taken on lines 3-3, 44 and 55 of Fig. 6, the spring contacts upon the carriers revealed in Fig. 4 being removpd; Fig.6 is a sectional view on line 66 0 Fig. 3'; Fig. 7 is a sectional View on line 77.of Fig. 9 illustrating the manner in which a mounting nut is assembled with the casing and its mounting plate; Fig. 8 is a sectional view with a portion of the handle shown in elevation and with some of the parts removed; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 99 of Fig. 3; Fig. 10 is a sectional view illustrating complemental contacts upon two contact carriers; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the handle looking from the inside thereof. I

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the dilferent figures- The casing has an end wall 1 and a side wall 2-, the wall 1 being essentially flat and the wall 2 being preferably cylindrical. A

mounting plate 3 is disposed over the end wall and upon the exterior of the casing beyond which the mounting plate laterally projects. One of these elements, preferably the mounting plate, is formed with a .plurality of tongues 4 which project throu h openings formed in the end Wall 1 of the casing. These tongues-are laterally deflected as indicated at 5 so that the end wall is interposed and clamped between the laterally deflected ends of the tongues and the body portions of the mounting plate. The mounting plate is desirably circular and co-axial with the casing and it has a central circular raised portion 6 which is concentric with the mounting plate and the casing and through which a large circular opening 7 is formed, this opening being likewise coaxial with the casing and plate. One or more arcuate slots 8, also concentric with the casing, are formed through the end wall thereof and are aligned with the opening 7, these slots being formed in depressed portions 9: The end wall of the casing and the raised portion 6 of this mounting plate are spaced apart to receive, arcuate flanges lO'formed upon one end of the handle 11, the flanges, the end wall of the casing, and

the casing mounting plate co-operating to define a plane of rotation or oscillation for the handle. The switching mechanism includes an actuating member 12 here shown as being in the form ofa ring. This ring is formed with wide notches 13 upon its inner circular face. These notches receive the handle portions 14 which project into the interior of the casing through the arouate slots 8. Said notches or openings are of such shape as to prevent material rela- =tiveturning movement betweenthe handle and" actuating member while desirably permitting sliding movement of the actuating member upon the handle. A contact carrler 15 carries bayonet pins 16 that are receivable in bayonet slots 17 formed in the cylindrical wall of-the case.-

ing. This contact carrier carries contacts 18, 19, 20, etc., which pertain to the different circuits, the circuit relation thereof. being immaterial so far as my invention is concerned. These contacts are shown in the form of threaded rods which are screwed into holes that are formed through the contact carrier and are providedwith suitable binding screws upon the outer ends as indicated at 21. The inner ends of the rods '18 are slightly dished so as to receive contacts that are provided upon one or more contact carriers that are supplied in addition to the contact carrier 15. Another contact carrier 22 is interposed between the contact carrier 15 and the contact actuator 12,'the contact carrier 22 being desirably in the form of a metallic ring which is goaxial with the actuating member 12 and the switch casing. The ring 22 carries a series of metallic contacts 23 which are formed with spring barrels 24 that have clinching formations 25 Fig. 10 upon one side of the ring to hold this ring in firm assembly with the contacts 23' upon the other side of this ring. The spring barrels 24 slide within openings formed transversely in the actuating ring 12 whereby this actuating ring engages sides of these barrels to force the barrels to turn therewith whereby the ring 12, in being turned, will turn. the ring 22 to shift the contacts 23 into and out of engagement with the complemental contacts upon the carrier 15. This carrier is formed with depressions, clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, which receive the contacts 23 when the switch is in open circuit position, the carrier 15 being formed of insulating material.

The contacts 23 are pressed toward the carrier 15 and the actuating ring 12 is While the spring barrels and contacts 23" are desirably parts of integral structures the invention is not to be thus limited, it beingobvious that the mechanical function performed by the spring barrel and the springs therein may be accomplished. whether the spring barrels are integrally formed with the contacts 23- or not.

There is a central sleeve 28 that is coaxial with the handle and with the casing and other rotating parts of the switch. The sleeve is assembled with the casing by means of tongues 28' formed upon the sleeve and clinched with the end Wall of the casing, Fig. 6. This sleeve houses the barrel 29 of any suitable lock which is accessible from the front of the handle. The sleeve is shown with slots 30 into which the'tumblers 31 of the lock may be projected when operated by a key in order to lock the inner contact carrier 34 and from which the tumblers may be withdrawn when the contact carrier 34 is to be unlocked and readjusted, the handle controlled switch being preferably always adjustable.

The rotating*part of the 10010 carries a projection 32 which extends into the switch casing through a central opening in the end wall of the casing. A contact actuator 33 is formed with an opening that receives the projection 32, this opening being of such shape as to prevent material relative turning movement between the actuator.33 and p the projection 32 but permitting sliding movement of this actuator 33 uponthe lock projection 32. The contact carrier 34 is interposed between the contact carrier 15 and the contact actuator 33. This.coi1tact carrier 34 is shown as being in the form of a triangular plate. It has a central depression a 35 which is received upon the inner end-of the central contact 19 in the contact carrier 15, these portions 35 and 19 constituting complemental contacts as the switch is illustrated. The contact carrying plate 34 is. thus obviously mounted to be turned to the extent defined by the turning movement of the lock projection 32 through the intermediation of parts now to be described.

The contact carrier 34 carries spring devices assembled therewith as the spring device illustrated in Fig. 10 is assembled with the contact carrier 22. The parts of the spring devices which assemble the contact carrier 34 with the contact actuator 33 are similar to the parts shown in Fig. 10 and are given similar pharacters of reference with prime exponents added. As the invention is illustrated there are three of these spring deviceswhich are distributed around the axis of turning movement of the contact carrier 34. Contacts 12 and. 13, as illustrated in Fig. 4, .are shown with the contacts removed therefrom. These spring devices serve to maintain the contact actuator v 33in engagement with the lock projection 32 and also serve to maintain the contact carrier 34 in its plane of movement. As illustrated the Spring barrel of one of the spring devices pertaining to the contact carrier 34 has added thereto a contact 37 thengage one or more c'omplemental contacts upon the carrier 15. A switch thus constructed may be fastened in place with the,

-aid of nuts 38 formed with threaded holes th'erethrbugh- These nuts are polygonal in contour and have their sides in engagement .with the projecting edge portions. 39 that project laterally of the mounting plate to prevent the nuts from turning. These nuts are located upon the inner sides of the mounting plates and project into openings 40 that are formed in theside wall of the casing and extend over into the end wall, these openings preventing movement of the nuts lengthwise of the switch. The openings 40 are desirably extended as indicated at 41 to receive portions of screws passed 7 through the nuts.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made withdiit departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire -to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. A switch structure including .a casiiig having an end wall; a plate disposed at the end wall and upon the exterior 'of the easing, there being aligned openings in the plate and end wall and a space between the plate and end wall; switching mechanism within the casing; and a switch handle having an accessible portion upon the exterior of the casing and another portion projecting into the casing and there assembled with the switching mechanism to enable the handle to operate such mechanism, said handle having aflange which is received in the space between the end wall and plate.

2. A switch structure including a casing' having an end wall; a plate disposed at' the end wall and upon the exteripr of the casing, there. being aligned openings i the plate and end wall and a space between the plate and end wall; switching mechanism within the casing; and a switch handle mounted to turn upon the casing and having an accessible portion upon the exterior of the casing and another portion projecting into the casing and there assembled with the switching mechanism to enable the handle to operate such mechanism, said handle having a flange which is received in the. space between the end wall and the plate, the f switching mechanism having an actuating member formed with an opening in which the portion of the handle that projects into the casing is received, this opening being of such shape as to prevent material relative W turning movement of the handle and actuating member'while permitting sliding movement of the actuating member upon the handle.

3-. A switchstructure including-a casing having an end wall; a plate disposed at the end wall and upon the exterior of the casing, there being, aligned openings in the plate and end wall and a space between the plate and end wall; switching mechanism within the casingj a switch handle mounted the portion of the handle that projects into the casing is received, this opening being of such shape as to prevent material relative turning movement of the handle and actuaing member while permitting sliding move ment of the actuating member upon the handle: and spring mechanism pressing the actuating member toward the end wall of the casing.

4. A switch structure including a casing having an endwall; a plate disposed at the end wall and upon the exterior of the'casing, there being aligned openings in the plate and end wall; switching mechanism within the casing; a switch handle mounted to turn upon the casing and having an accessible portion upon the exterior of the easing and another portion projecting into the casing and there assembled with the-switching mechanism to enable the handle to operate such mechanism, the switching mecha nism having an actuating member formed with an opening in which the portion of the handle that projects into the casing is received, this opening being of such shape as to prevent material relative turning movement of the handle and actuating member while permitting sliding movement of the actuating member upon the handle; and spring mechanism pressing the actuating member toward the end wall of the casing.

5. A switch structure including a casing having end and side walls; a mounting plate disposed at the end wall and upon the exterior of the casing beyond which the mounting plate laterally projects and which mounting plate has an edge portion projecting rearwardly therefrom, the mounting -plate having an opening aligned with the side wall of the casing and the side wall of the casing having an opening aligned with theaforesaid opening, this opening in the casing side wall being. continued inwardly into the end wall of the casing; and a nut of polygonal contour engagingfthe aforesaid laterally projecting" edge portion of the mounting plate and also engaging marginal portions of the opening in the casing, the

portion of the latter opening that is in the side wall of the casing being continued sufficiently away from the endwall of the casing to receive the projectin end' of a, screw or bolt passed through sai nut.

6. A switch structure including a casing having and and sidewalls; a mounting plate disposed at the end wall and upon the exterior of the casing beyond which the mounting plate laterally projects and which mounting plate has an edge portion projecting rearwardly therefrom, the mounting plate having an opening aligned with the side wall of the casing and the side wall of the casing having an opening aligned with the aforesaid opening, this opening in the casing side wall being continued inwardly into the end wall of the casing; and a nut of polygonal contour engaging the aforesaid laterally projecting edge portion of the mounting plate and also engaging marginal portions of the opening in the casing.

7. An electric switch including a casing having a wall at one end of the casing; a contact carrier at the other end of the easing; a contact actuator between the contact carrier and the casing end wall; a second contact carrier between the aforesaid contact carrier and the actuator; a contact upon the first contact carrier and accessible for engagement at the inner face of this contact carrier; and a contact upon the second contact carrier and positioned to be engageable with the contact upon the first contact carrier, the contact upon the second contact carrier being formed with a spring barrel that projects toward the contact actuator and which actuator engages the side of the barrel to move the second contact carrier through the intermediation of the barrel, there being a spring in this barrel exerting pressure at one end against the contact actuator and at its other end against the contact upon the second contact carrier whereby the contact actuator may operate the second contact carrier without binding the action of the spring in said spring barrel.

8. An electric switch including a casing having a wall at one end of the casing; a contact carrier at the other end of the easing; a contact actuator between the contact carrier and the casing end wall;- a second contact carrier between the aforesaid contact carrier and the actuator; a contact upon the first contact carrier and accessible for engagement at the inner face of this contact carrier; a contact upon the second contact carrier and positioned to be engageable with the contact upon the first'contact carrier; and a spring barrel upon the'second contact carrier and projecting toward the contact actuator that engages the side of the barrel to move the second contact barrier through the intermediation bf the barrel without binding the spring in the "barrel.

9. An electric switch including a casing having a wall at one end of the casing; a contact carrier at the othercnd of the easing; a contact actuator between the contact carrier and the casing end wall, this contact actuator'being mounted to turn in a plane 1,51e,7es

substantially parallel with the plane of the aforesaid contact carrier; a second contact carrier between the aforesaid contact car rier and the actuator; a contact upon the first contact carrier and accessible for engagement at the inner face of'this contact carrier; and a contact upon the second contact carrier and positioncdto'be engageable with the contact upon the first contact carrier, the contact upon the second contact carrier being formed with a spring barrel that projects toward the contact actuator and which actuator engages the side of the barrel to turn the second contact carrier through the intermediation of the barrel, there being a spring in this barrel exerting pressure at one end against the contact actuator and at its other end against the con tact upon the second contact carrier whereby the contact actuator may operate the second contact carrier without binding the action of the spring in said spring barrel.

10. An electric switch including a casing having a Wall at one end of the casing; a contact carrier at the other end of the casing; a contact actuator between the contact carrier and the casing. end wall, this contact actuator being mounted to turn in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the aforesaid contact carrier and the actuator; a contact upon the first contact carrier and accessible for engagement at the inner face of this contact carrier; a contact upon the second contact carrier and positioned to be engageable with the contact upon the first contact carrier; and a spring barrel upon the second contact carrier and projecting toward the contact actuator that engages the side of the barrel to turn the second contact carrier through the intermediation of the barrel without binding the spring in the barrel.

11. An electric switch including a contact carrier a second contact carrier pivoted upon the first; complemental contacts upon the contact carriers; an actuator for the second contact carrier; and leveling springs upon different sides of the axis of the second contact carrier and interposed between this second contact carrier and the contact actuator and engaging the contact actuator to enable the contact actuator to turn the second contact carrier and oo-operating enable the second contact carrier to be turned by the actuator and co-operating with the actuator to maintain the second contact carrier substantially in one plane of movement.

In. witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day of- January A. D.,

a HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

